Middleboro mom expresses anguish at not being able to bring home her ailing son

Jesse Heikkila, 7, of Middleboro has brain cancer, and he and his family had hoped that he'd be able to have hospice care at home. A community turned out for his trip home, but his condition worsened, and he's had to stay in the hospital.

MIDDLEBORO – All Suzanne Heikkila wants to do is "bring my baby home."

Her 7-year-old son Jesse is fighting for his life at Dana Farber Cancer Institute, and his family had hoped he would come home for hospice care last week.

Supporters, including State Police troopers who learned of Jesse's plight, had planned to escort him back to Middleboro and honor him in a homecoming ceremony, but his health prevented it.

This week, Jesse's mother reached out on the web site Carepages.com to let people know she appreciated the effort.

"We miss talking with him so much," she wrote. "Jeff (her husband) and I just want to bring our baby home so he can see his puppy, play video games and build Lego's with (brother) Colton."

Jesse was diagnosed with Stage 4 neuroblastoma – brain cancer – shortly after his third birthday in 2009, when he complained of his first headache.

Since then he's had little time to just be a boy, instead battling for his life and facing harsh therapy, surgery, remissions and relapses.

Last week his family was set to bring him home for hospice – residents and local officials had planned to welcome him with signs, balloons and a police escort, since Jesse had said one day he would like to be a police officer.

"On the day of discharge, everything was going according to plan," wrote his mother. "The Massachusetts State Police patiently waited to escort Jesse home while our community eagerly waited to wave to Jesse. Folks lined the streets of Middleboro with yellow balloons. Just at that time, Jesse started having more difficulty breathing."

The family was told by doctors Jesse would have to stay at Dana Farber.

"We were devastated to announce that Jesse would not be returning home that day. However, we were overcome with joy that so many folks came together to provide Jesse with a spectacular homecoming," his mother wrote.

Dozens held yellow balloons and signs were flitting in the breeze, folks came together to wait for the little boy who captured their hearts, and news crews were on the lookout for the procession.

Jesse's grandparents, Brockton natives William and Ann Gilbert, were among them.

"He's coming home on hospice," Ann Gilbert said as she waited.

Despite her anguish, Suzanne's pain is not apparent. Heikkila had said previously that Jesse deserved a mother who isn't sad all the time, and credited her mother, Ann, with giving her the strength to go on, which Suzanne has done.

Last summer, when she learned her son's cancer was progressing, it didn't stop her from taking to the streets to raise awareness of a childhood cancer.

"Children are dying every day and it doesn't even make the evening news. There's no outcry. Nationally, seven kids are quietly dying every minute."